Before purchasing a Power over Ethernet (PoE) switch for your enterprise network, consider where to deploy the switch and whether any environmental conditions might require specialized equipment. For example, an industrial PoE switch is an excellent choice for deployments to remote locations or harsh environments. Some environments will have abnormal temperature fluctuations, high humidity, or excessive dust. These conditions will put regular switches at risk of damage, whereas industrial switches are built to withstand such environments.
This article will explore why an industrial PoE switch is highly recommended for harsher working environments.
Easy to Install
Power over Ethernet (PoE) is a revolutionary technology that enables power and data to be delivered to a powered network device using a single Cat5 or Cat6 Ethernet cable. Thanks to its compact design, an industrial PoE switch is uniquely designed for easy installation in rugged and outdoor environments, effectively powering devices in remote or harsh environments. With various mounting options, such as wall mounts, DIN rails, and rack mounts, installing industrial PoE switches is even easier.
Streamlined Management and Maintenance
Harsh working conditions demand equipment that can be managed easily and with minimal maintenance. Industrial PoE switches fall into two categories: unmanaged or managed. An unmanaged PoE switch is a plug-and-play product that requires little configuration to set up. These switches are typically cheaper and work best in networks where security features and other more granular configurations are unnecessary—unmanaged switches only facilitate communication between connected devices.
However, a managed industrial PoE switch is more appropriate when network security is a priority. Though pricier than their unmanaged counterparts, managed switches come with multifaceted advanced management and maintenance features that ensure optimal results even in remote or hostile industrial locales. Additional features offered by managed switches include:
- Seamless network monitoring and maintenance capabilities.
- Traffic filtering.
- Control over network topography.
- Advanced network security measures and settings.
- Troubleshooting capabilities, including cable diagnostics.
- Remote management.
Managed industrial PoE switches work best in environments with more significant environmental risks, such as manufacturing plants, but network management and security are still crucial for maintaining smooth operations.
Durability and Adaptable
Industrial PoE switches are meant to operate in adverse environmental conditions; hence, durability is the utmost priority during manufacturing. These switches can withstand excess dust, vibration, and low/high temperatures, qualities typical of most industrial workplaces. Some of the features that make industrial switches able to withstand such factors include:
- IP40-rated aluminum casings.
- High-temperature tolerance (-40°C to 75°C).
- Protection from electromagnetic interference.
- Anti-corrosion coatings.
- High protection against power surges and lightning strikes through comprehensive electrostatic discharge (ESD) shielding.
Industrial PoE switches can also withstand substantial mechanical impact and vibrations without causing failure, making them incredibly durable for any working environment.
Redundant Power Inputs
Power failures can potentially cause downtime and equipment damage, both of which can create security loopholes in a network. Industrial PoE switches often adopt a dual power supply design to combat this, further ensuring the system’s reliability and stability.
Multiple PoE Standards for Compatibility
Standards are vital considerations to examine before deciding on which PoE switch to buy. Most industrial PoE switches are compatible with all PoE standards, including IEEE 802.3af (PoE), IEEE 802.3at (PoE+), and IEE3bt (PoE++). These standards categorize devices based on their power requirements, and adherence ensures that the devices connected to the switch can be powered efficiently via Ethernet. Standards cover all devices, from IP cameras to high-demand devices like digital signage.
Safety, Performance, and Power Savings
Industrial PoE switches are equipped with features such as power usage monitoring that ensure the right amount of power is delivered to each powered device (PD). This feature can also detect when a particular device is no longer in use and automatically stop supplying the current. These two features effectively prevent PD damage (due to power surges in the port) and reduce power costs by turning off the port when not in use.
Enhanced Network Redundancy Capabilities
In most industries, even just a few seconds of network downtime can devastate operations, cause critical errors, and possibly compromise safety measures to protect workers and equipment. This is especially true in mining, utilities, automated facilities, or surveillance industries. Therefore, industrial PoE switches are manufactured with redundancy capabilities, such as:
- Ethernet Ring Protection Switching (ERPS), which guards against link failures.
- Quality of Service (QoS) prioritizes high-importance data flow in the event of network disruption in any environment, such as low bandwidth.
- Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP), which prioritizes multimedia traffic delivery.
- Segmenting the network using Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs) can improve network performance and protection.
Industrial PoE switches often have a fiber-optic uplink port, which guarantees reliable network bandwidth.
Do You Need an Industrial PoE Switch?
While commercial and industrial PoE switches have similar operating characteristics, each is designed for different environmental conditions. A hardened industrial PoE switch is ideal for maintaining network connectivity in harsh working conditions. Suitable locations include outdoor areas, factory workshops, traffic control cabinets, and places with extremely low or high temperatures.
The Final Word
Due to their uniquely adaptable design and features, many organizations that operate in rugged or adverse environments are deploying hardened industrial PoE switches. Adding support for Power over Ethernet (PoE) technology in these environments makes sense. With PoE, businesses and organizations can effortlessly deploy powered devices in any environment, such as surveillance cameras, wireless access points, lighting, and other industrial devices. PoE also significantly cuts installation costs while ensuring that power can reach places where it would otherwise be impossible or hard to install electricity outlets.
